World Wide Fund for Nature Australia

WWF is the world’s largest independent conservation organisation. We have offices in over 100 countries and 5 million supporters globally. WWF?s unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science, involves action at every level from local to global, and ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature. Recently WWF International placed Water as one of its six global priorities. WWF-Australia is one of the largest offices in the international network with over 100 staff across the country. We have staff experienced across a range of scientific disciplines and are supported by a strong communications team. We work on ground to deliver conservation outcomes but also have a significant advocacy component to our work to achieve the policy and funding outcomes needed for change at scale. WWF-Australia prides itself on engaging successfully with governments, communities, businesses and individuals. The achievement of our conservation goals depends on collaboration with everyone from ordinary people to the nation’s most influential decision-makers. WWF-Australia has six High Impact Initiatives with our lead Great Barrier Reef campaign focused on water management. Two of our six High Impacts Initiatives are in the Indo-Pacific region – the Heart of Borneo, and the Coral Triangle. WWF has offices throughout the Indo-Pacific which has a wealth of capacity on water issues, and importantly knowledge of the institutional and cultural challenges of their country.

Organisational Capability

1. Water policy, planning, advice and projects: WWF has a long history of success for water management which
is further addressed in subsequent sections.
2. Science and Research: We undertake key research, and collaborate closely with scientist in our policy
development
3. Policy development: WWF develops policy across a range of issues to further sustainable development
4. Advocacy: WWF specialises in synthesis of complex information into policy proposals which can appeal to the
values and priorities of key decision makers.
5. Stakeholder engagement: Critical to achieving conservation outcomes is to understand and engage with key
stakeholders to gain their endorsement for proposed solutions.
6. Traditional and digital media: We have extensive capacity to communicate to the public and target audiences
to raise the profile of issues and gain support for solutions.
7. Corporate engagement and investment: we work closely with a range of corporates to influence their
operations as well as secure investments
8. Extension, training and education: Critical to conservation outcomes is providing the community and
stakeholders with the right information and skills to address problems.
9. On-ground delivery: We have a history of on-ground delivery of projects to better protect species and
demonstrate sustainable development programs.

Projects

Great Barrier Reef High Impact Initiative
This is WWF-Australia’s lead campaign. Improved water and catchment management is the core component. WWF has been integral to securing over 1 billion in private and public investment to assist farmers adopt precision agricultural practices which boost productivity as well as cut pollution. This brings great benefits to the health of the Great Barrier Reef as well as the tourism and fishing industries that rely on it. The broader program is an excellent example of Australian water expertise that would be very beneficial to transfer to countries in the Indo-Pacific to achieve economic, community and environmental outcomes.
Project Catalyst
Project Catalyst is a pioneering partnership aimed at reducing the environmental impacts of sugar production on the Great Barrier Reef through innovative farming practices. Project Catalyst tests and validate practices that are good for farmers and also good for the Reef. The project brings together diverse stakeholders – local cane growers and Natural Resource Management (NRM) groups, WWF and The Coca-Cola Foundation – who all share an interest in sustainable production and in protecting the Great Barrier Reef. http://www.wwf.org.au/about_us/working_with_business/project_sponsorships/project_catalyst/
Rivers to Reef to Turtles
With the support of Banrock Station Environmental Trust, WWF-Australia and its partners are leading pioneering research to identify key water pollutants which travel from rivers to the Reef and impact on turtle health. WWF’s project partners include the University of Queensland, James Cook University, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Queensland government agencies, local Traditional Owner and natural resource management groups.This projects shows how WWF can secure private sector funding and bring together a powerful mix of organisations to tackle scientific challenges critical to guide investment and management decisions. http://www.wwf.org.au/about_us/working_with_business/project_sponsorships/rivers_to_reef_to_turtles/
WWF Basin Stewardship Strategies
WWF has leveraged our extensive local networks as well as our global expertise to develop strategies for collective action and engage communities, businesses and government to improve water management in key basins including the Mekong, Ganges, Indus and Yangtze. The focus on collective action is essential to highlight our shared dependence on and responsibility for this vital resource. WWF understands water-related risk, and brings stakeholders together to develop solutions. By design, these solutions will be locally relevant, but WWF’s global perspective will allow best practices to flow from basin to basin, continent to continent. http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/how_we_work/conservation/freshwater/water_management/wwf_basin_stewardship_strategies/
Luc Hoffmann Institute Mekong Projects to inform management
Luc Hoffmann Institute is an independent research hub at WWF International. The Global LIVES project will deliver a replicable scientific and policy process for integrating indicators for food energy water, and natural system integrity, with direct testing in a critical place for conservation in the Mekong river basin (Cambodia). The Mekong Nexus project is another Luc Hoffmann Institute project which is examining the risks and trade-offs introduced into the Mekong river system through hydropower and other infrastructure development. This project supports the rationale for increasing efforts on holistic management for policy and investment in achieving food, energy and water security.